Data CentresChris ThomsonTue 12 May 26
Noise Fears Drive Bid to Refuse $600m WA Data Centre
A council planner in Perth’s north-east says a $600-million AI-ready data centre should not go ahead due to one factor. Noise.
The centre proposed for an industrial site at Hazelmere has been recommended for refusal solely because its 18 diesel back-up generators will be too loud, according to the City of Swan’s statutory planning manager Phillip Russell.
Sydney-based Green Box Architecture has celebrated the generators in the project’s “generator facade” (pictured above) in what it says is a “bold and honest representation of the facility’s purpose”.
However, the generators are not to the liking of Russell. In a report to Western Australia’s outer metropolitan development assessment panel, he conceded the planned AI-ready data centre was consistent with the 4.5ha site’s zoning but said its back-up generators would be too noisy.
For this reason alone, Russell has recommended the proposal by Sydney-based data centre developer GreenSquareDC be refused when the assessment panel meets on May 19.
“It is noted that the applicant has claimed that the probability of power failure requiring the operation of the generators is limited and the period of any such outage would also be expected to be of limited duration,” Russell said.
“However, city staff cannot accept that the potential for noise exceedance by the operation of the data centre in an emergency back-up power scenario and its potential nuisance and adverse impact to the amenity of so broad a residential area should be tolerable.”
An acoustic report submitted by GreenSquareDC recommended that a noise barrier made of 12mm-thick compressed fibre-cement, 75mm-thick Hebel Powerpanel or similar perfroming material be installed. The report said that, with the barrier and other mitigation measures, the planned data centre would be “expected to comply” with WA’s noise regulations.
If approved by the assessment panel against Phillip’s recommendation, the data centre—proposed for Stirling Crescent, Hazelmere, 15km from Perth’s CBD—would be GreenSquareDC’s first in WA.
An unnamed spokesperson for GreenSquareDC told The Urban Developer the centre was planned for “an established industrial area of Hazelmere, in a precinct already identified for industrial development and supported by major transport and power infrastructure”.
“The site is adjacent to existing power infrastructure at the Guildford power terminal, which means the facility can connect without the need for new transmission corridors,” the spokesperson said.
GreenSquareDC’s acoustic report said there were five noise-sensitive neighbouring sites: the adjoining Helena Steiner School, a future private hospital, an existing house and two future residential blocks.
“The facility has been designed to meet requirements relating to noise, traffic and visual impact, with minimal water use,” the spokesperson said.
“GreenSquare has engaged with the City of Swan throughout the development of the proposal and has also met in person with representatives of the nearby school earlier this month.
“That discussion allowed questions to be raised directly with the project team and, based on that feedback, elements of the plan are being reviewed to see where adjustments can be made.”
The application was advertised for public comment for an initial period of 14 days that with GreenSquareDC’s consent was extended for 10 days. Dominating the 1897 submissions received were 1836 objections that among them cited purported noise, heat, electromagnetic energy and exhaust emissions as reasons the three-storey centre should be refused.
